Municipal Engineer Dies During TDP-Led Review Meeting, YSRCP Demands Judicial Inquiry
In a tragic incident that has sparked political controversy in Andhra Pradesh, a municipal superintendent engineer died after allegedly being subjected to intense questioning by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders during a review meeting in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
Details of the Incident
C Govinda Rao, a municipal superintendent engineer with the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), was participating in a meeting at Gajuwaka in Visakhapatnam. The meeting, focused on sanitation issues and maintenance of a garbage transfer centre, was attended by Swachh Andhra Corporation Managing Director K Pattabhiram and TDP state president and Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao.
According to eyewitness accounts and subsequent allegations, Rao was being questioned by the TDP leaders when he suddenly suffered a heart attack and collapsed. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead during treatment.
YSRCP's Strong Reaction and Allegations
The opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident, with state coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy blaming what he called the "rude and arrogant behaviour" of TDP leaders for the employee's untimely death.
Nalamaru Chandrasekhar, president of the YSRCP Employees and Pensioners Division, provided a detailed account of the incident. "The TDP leader did not listen to what Rao was saying. He did not let him explain. He cut him off continuously and humiliated him in front of everyone with his rude and arrogant behaviour," Chandrasekhar claimed.
Chandrasekhar further elaborated that Pattabhiram questioned Rao but refused to accept his answers, creating what he described as "a very hostile and dangerous situation" that allegedly caused Rao to suffer the fatal heart attack.
Broader Pattern of Behavior Alleged
The YSRCP leader connected this incident to a previous case involving TDP MLA Budda Rajasekhar Reddy, who was accused of assaulting forest officials at a check post last September. Chandrasekhar suggested that "inaction against Srisailam TDP MLA Budda Rajasekhar Reddy, who allegedly roughed up forest officials at a forest check post last September, had emboldened attacks on government officials."
That earlier incident had led to protests by forest officials and the registration of a First Information Report (FIR), creating tensions between government employees and political representatives.
Demands for Immediate Action
Chandrasekhar was unequivocal in his demands for accountability. "There was no need for Pattabhi to hold a review meeting and he behaved rudely even while he was explaining the issues raised. The erring TDP leader should be sacked immediately and action should be taken against him for being responsible for the death of Govinda Rao," he stated emphatically.
The YSRCP has positioned this incident as part of a disturbing pattern of behavior toward government officials, calling for systemic changes to protect public servants from what they characterize as political harassment.
Political Implications and Response
This incident occurs against the backdrop of ongoing political tensions in Andhra Pradesh between the ruling TDP and opposition YSRCP. The death of a government employee during official proceedings has added a serious dimension to these political rivalries.
As of now, the TDP leaders involved in the incident have not publicly commented on the allegations or the demand for a judicial inquiry. The silence from the ruling party has only intensified calls for transparency and accountability in the matter.
The incident raises important questions about the conduct of political representatives during official meetings and the pressure faced by government employees in performing their duties under political scrutiny.
